Process of treating tobacco



Patented May 24, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALMOND L. CHESLEY, OF RICHMOND, .VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY PROCESS OF TREATING TOBACCO No Drawing.

tobacco.

It is known that in general, the finer kinds of tobacco contain smaller proportions of nicotine, and that the flavor and other qualities of tobacco are improved by reduction of the nicotine content,

It is desirable to maintain tobacco in a condition of suppleness and pliability, that is, in a condition known as good order during manufacture, so that it can be handled without breakage, and to prevent the manufactured tobacco from drying out in dry climates.

This condition is obtained by treating the tobacco with an agent, which will increase the moisture holding properties of the tobacco, to enable it to hold more moisture than it ordinarily will, to hinder evaporation, and to prevent hardening of the tobacco.

The fbite of tobacco is due to acidity, and theoretically might be eliminated by neutralizing with an alkali, but the usual alkalies cannot be used for this purpose since they tend to cause other changes, which injure the flavor and smoking qualities of the tobacco.

Nicotine content is reduced by the use of an alkali to liberate the same, after which it is removed by means of steam, air, heat, or a combination of two or more, at atmospheric or reduced pressure.

As previously pointed out, the use of the ordinary alkalies for the purpose of neutralizing acidity and liberating nicotine is not practicable, and any agent used for any of the three purposes above stated, must be of a nature such that when burned, it does not produce gases disagreeable tothe taste or irritating to the mucous membrane of the eyes, nose and throat.

One of the primary objects of the present Application filed Hatch 15, 1930. Serial No. 436,253.

invention is the provision of a non-volatile agent which may be utilized to obtain the three ends above mentioned, namely: improvement of the moisture holding properties, elimination of bite, and reduction 'of' nicotine content without impairment of the flavor or otheriqualities of the tobacco.

' I have discovered that all of these desirable results may be obtained by the use of a non-volatile agent, or agents, of a common nature, such as a water, solution of the alkyl amines, and particularly, the hydroxyl alkyl amines.

,Among the preferred compounds are the ethanol amines, mono-, diand tri-, all or any of which I have found to give satisfactory results.

These organic bases provide an alkali by means of which nicotine may be liberated without impairing the flavor,'odor, or any other qualities of the tobacco. When the nicotine is removed, as for instance, by steaming out, a better effect is obtained with the hydroxyl alkyl amines, than with agents usually employed, since such amines are volatile slightly, if at all, in steam.

The chemical formulas and boiling points of these preferred ethanolamines are as follows Formula Approximate Molecular Weight Boiling Point H Monoethanolamiue N-CHzCHaOH 61.07 171C; at 757 mm.

The three ethanolamines differ slightly in their physical and chemical properties. They are miscible in all proportions with water,

' theordinary alcohols, acetone and its homolo ues l cerin lycol, ethylene, chlorhydr in aiid p ropyleng chlorhydrin, and in general with many oxygenated organic compounds. Among the exceptions to this classlfication are ethyl ether and some of the aldehydes, in which the ethanolamines are scarce- 1y soluble. Mono-ethanolamine is a colorless hquid, slightly Viscous and possesses a falnt but agreeable ammoniacal odor. It is one of the most hydroscopic substances known. Di-ethanolamine is also a colorless and odorless liquid. It is viscous like glycerin. Triethanolamine, when pure, is a white, crystalline solid at'room temperature.

The ethanolamines are basic compounds, as shown by their structural formulae. When dissolved in water, they are strongly alkaline to henolphthalein. Titration with standard ydrochloric acid has shown that one molecular weight of any one of the ethanolamines is equivalent to one molecular weight of sodium hydroxide in combining with an acid. The tri-ethanolamine appears to be .more basic than the di-ethanolamine, which, in turn, seems to be more basic than the mono-ethanolamine.

The tobacco may be treated in any suitable manner, as for instance, by dipping it into a solution of the selected amine in water, alcohol or other suitable solvent, or by spraying the tobacco with the solution of the amine, eithtr by sprinkling or the use of compressed air. It may also be treated by spraying the tobacco with the amine in undiluted form. r

The amount used'will vary according to the character and quantity of tobacco treated, and the amount of nicotine it is desired to remove. After the tobacco has been treated, the liberated nicotine may be removed at once, or the tobacco may be left for a period of twenty-four hours, before removal, to

obtain the full action of the amine. The

nicotine may be removed in any desired manner, by steam, air or heat, or a combination of one or more of these at atmospheric or under reduced pressure.

In practicing the invention, I may use from one-half to four pounds of a 4% to 16% solution of the amine per one hundred pounds of tobacco. A formula which I have found to be satisfactory is two to three pounds of a 25% solution per one hundred pounds of tobacco.

Under suitable conditions, particularly in aqueous solution and/or upon substitution to form a non-volatile compound methyl-,

ethyl-, and propyl-amines, mono-, di-, and trima be used for some purposes, but not as satisfactorily as the amino or basic alcohols,

.such as the ethanolamines.

What is claimed as new is 1. The method of neutralizing acidity, libcrating nicotine and improving the hygroscopic qualities of tobacco, which consists in treating the tobacco with a. non-volat1le amine.

2. The method of neutralizing acidity, libcrating nicotine and improving the hygroscopic qualities of tobacco, which consists in treating the tobacco with a hydroxy-alkyl- 8.1111116. V

3. The method of neutralizing acidity, libcrating nicotine and improving the hygroscopic qualities of tobacco, which .consists in treating the tobacco with'an ethanolamine.

4. The. method of removing nicotine from tobacco, which consists in treating the tobacco with a non-volatile amine to liberate the nicotine, and removing the liberated nico- 7 As a new article of manufacture a tor- 11. A process of improving tobacco which comprises spraying the tobacco with an aqueous solution of ethanolamine and then treating the tobacco with a mixture of steam and air at elevated temperatures.

12. A process of improving tobacco which comprises moistening the tobacco with a high boillng point liquid amino alcohol, permitting it to stand in contact with the amino alcohol for about 24 hours and then heat treat- 111 v 13. A, process of improving tobacco which comprises treating the tobacco with about a 4% to 16% solution of amino alcohol.

14. The process of claim 13 in which about to 4 pounds of said solution are utilized for about every 100 pounds of tobacco.

15. A process of improving tobacco which comprises treating the tobacco with about a 25% solution of ethanolamine.

1 6. Theprocess of claim 15 in which about 2 to 3 poundsof said solution are utilized forevery 100 pounds of tobacco. I

17. As a new composition of matter, a tobacco preparation. containing substantial quantities of amino alcohol.

18. As a new composition of matter, a heattreated tobacco preparation containing monoethanolamine.

19. As a new composition of matter, a steam-treated tobacco preparation contain ing di-ethanolamine.

20. As a new composition of matter a heattreated tobacco preparation containmg triethanolamine.

Signed at Richmond and State of Virginia this 12th day of March A. D. 1930.

ALMOND L. CHESLEY, 

